Balanced ball mill



Nov. 27, 1928.

W. M. BARKER BALANCED BALL MILL 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 1, 1926 gmmtoa William M. mar/m as? it M Nov. 27, 1928.

' W. M. BARKER BALANCED BALL MILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1926 I gwuemtou W z'llz'am M Barker 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 W M BARKER BALANCED BALL MILL Filed Sept. 1, i926 Fag. 5

Nov, 27, 3928.

m'lliam M'Barken Nov. 27, 192$, H,692,974

. W. M. BARKER BALANCED BALL MILL Filed Sept- 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 9 Wiiziam M: Bwriiei: '36? MM WM Nov. 27, 1928.

5 Sheets-She et 5 W M BARKER BALANCED BALL KILL Filed Sept. 1 1926 William MBar/ceri ywh fly M Patented Nov. 27, 1928. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM. M, BARKER, OF CANTON, OHIO.

BALANCED 13.9.1.1. MILI...

Application filed September 1, 1926. Serial No. 132,987.

The invention relates toball mills prefer ably of the horizontal rotating type for use in grinding and pulverizing materials in the chemicaL-mineral, and metallurgical industries, and the like.

In my prior U. S. patent for balanced ball mills, No. 1,594,990, dated August 3, 1926, Iv disclose an improved construction and ar-' rangement for a horizontal rotating ball mill which may be used to grind or pulverize material, either in a dry or wet state, and provided with means for approximately balancing the ball load 'ofthe mill by maintaining a nearly equal weight of balls on each side ,of the mill drum axis, and adapted for grinding material passing from the mill feed chamberto the discharge chamber by true rolling ac- .tion and attrition between freely moving means, as balls and the like, and hard metal tracks, and the tracks being shaped to form continuous ball race annular grinding chambers entirely around the shell of the mill drum, and there being means. forkeeping the balls in these peripheral grinding chambers and away from the axial part of the drum, and there being means as an air suction draft, for positively forcing material being processedthrough 'the mill to pass inv succession between the entire series of balls 3 and ball tracks] The objects of the present invention are in general to provide improvements in the construction and arrangement. of the balanced ball mill of my prior patent; and, specifically,

are:

First, 'to provide auxiliary air inlets for the annular grinding chambers in additio to the material inlets therefor;

Second, to provide a plurality of ball race 49 annular grinding chambers for the mill, and intervening partitions between the chambers, and a plurality of ports in each of the several partitions communicating between'adjacent annular grinding chambers, the several annular grinding chambers being of diiferent sizes tramp or oversize material which may have accldentally passed through the annular grinding chambers from being immediately drawn out of the mill through its discharge orifice without being subject to the final grindlng actlon of the grinding means as balls preferably provided in the discharge chamber of the mill.

Fourth, to provide means for increasing the useful life of the grinding means such as balls, by utilizing the balls successively, as

their diametersare reduced by wear, in an-- nular grinding chambers of successively reduced-size.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical axial cross-section of one form'ofthe improved balanced ball mill as on line 11,Fig; 2;

Fig. 2, an end elevation thereof,-portions of the mill drum being shown in section as on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a detached fragmentary enlargeof Fig. 1, the grinding balls being removed; Fig. 4, adetached detail elevation view of the first and feed end linerring, portions belng shown in section as on line 44, Fig. 5.; Fig. 5, a cross-section thereof .as on-line 5:5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a detached detail elevation view of the second liner ring; I

Fig. 7, a cross-section thereof ason line 77, Fig. 6; I

Fig. 8, a detached detail elevation view of the third. liner ring; Fig. 9, a cross-section thereof as on line 99, Fig. 8;

Fig. 10, a detached detailelevation view of the fourth liner ring;

lsu ment of the lower portions of the mill drum Fig. 11, a cross-section thereof as on line 11-11, Fig. 10;

Fig. 12, a detached detail elevation view of the fifth and discharge end liner ring, portions being shown in section as on line '1212, Fig-13; and V Fig. 13, a cross-section thereof as on line 1313,.Fig. 12.- v

Similar numerals-refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the draw- I ings.

The improved balanced ball mill indicated generally at 10, includes an outer drum shell 11, secured as by cap screws 12 to the preferably flanged and orificed feed head 13 and discharge head 14 to form a preferably cylindric outer drum case for the ball mill.

Preferably at its ends, the shell 11 is pro- .vided with tires 15 for riding upon the carrying rolls 16 and the flanged carrying and thrust rolls17 one carrying roll 16 and one carrying and thrust roll 17 being secured as by'tapered keys 18 upon each of a pair of longitudinall extending and laterally spaced shafts 19 an 19', and the shafts 19 and 19 are {purnalled respectively in suitable bearlocks 20 and 20 mounted upon a suit ab e base 21.

One of'the shafts, as the shaft 19, may be extended beyond one of its bearing blocks for connectionwith a suitable motor or the. like, not shown, for rotating the shaft, to pro vide a. friction drive for rotating the cylindric shell 11 and connected parts.

' The outer shell 11 and the heads 13 and 14 form a cylindric chamber in which are located walls forming a feed chamber 22, a discharge chamber 23, and a plurality of ball race annular grinding chambers 24, 24", 24", and 24", a lurality of inlet ports 25 com--- municating the firstannular grinding chamber24 and a plurality of outlet ports 26 communicating between the last annular rinding chamber 24 and the discharge cham 'r 23.

The feed head 13 is preferably provide with an outwardly projecting central conical extension 13', having a preferably axial feed orifice 27 therein for providing. entrance for material to be ground into the feed chamber of the mill.

The dischar head 14 is likewise provided with a prefera ly' axial discharge orifice 28 located and secured as b cap screws 12, in the head 14 and prefera 1 consisting of a flan eddischarge orifice de ector tube 29 1ongitu ally extending into the discharge chamber 23 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth in detail.

For providing auxiliaryair inlets to the annular grinding chambers, a',plurality of preferably angled air inlet ports 30 are peripherally spaced and located in the feed head 13 andcommunicate through the walls thereof with the. annul ber 24.

The several annular toroidal grindingchambers-24,24 24,and 24 are all preferably of different sizes or volumes, and referably decrease in size frointhefeed en of the mill to the discharge end; that is to say, chamber 24 is smaller. than chamber 24, chamber 24 is smaller than chamber 24", and chamber 24 is smaller than chamber 24.

' In the partition wall separating annular grinding chamber- 24 from .the adjacent "24 and 24".

grinding chamber 24*, a pluralityof commu, nicating side ports 31 are located and provide communication between the chambers tween the feed chamber 22 and ar grinding chamscrews 12.

. peripheral side ripheral side'gr'oove 46, and an outwardly ex- Likewise communication between the chambers 24 and 24, and 24 and 24, are provided by side ports 31and 31" located in the partition walls separating the respective chambers.

The area of the ports 31 communicating between chambers 24 and 24", is preferably larger than the area of the orts 31 communicating between the chain are 24 and 24, and the area of ports 31" eommunicatin between the chambers 24=and 24 may be ikewise smaller than the area .of the ports 31'.

While the aforesaid feed chamber, discharge chamber, annular grinding chambers, and the inlet, outlet,.auxiliaryair inlet, and communicating ports therefor, may be formed by walls of any desired construction having the general outline indicated, a preferred construction and arrangement for forming the chambers and ports includes an outer cylindric liner 32 having its outer surface fitting and abutting the inner surface of the shell 11, and being preferably'secured to the heads 13 and 14 as by cap screws 12. 1 The liner 32 is provided with annular grooves 33 33", 33, and33. forming the outer walls of'the annular chambers 24, 24", 24 and 24 respectively, and outer ball race, tracks therein.

The remaining walls of the chambers are formed by liner rings 34,35, 36, 37 and 38,

ripherally spaced and radially extending 111- let ports 25 for communicating between the feed chamber 22 and the first grinding chamber 24. The ports 25 extend from the inner cylindric peripheral face '39 of the ring 34 to a peripheral side groove 40 inthe outer pe ripheral face of the ring.

The side grooved enter the ring 34 extends outwar 1y at the feed end sideof the ring to form a laterally extending ring flange 41,- whose outer surface fits against the inner surface'of the filler 32 at the feed end side of the first peripheral groove 33 therein.

The feed end face 42 of the ring 34 preferably abuts against the inner surfaceof the feed head, and the ring 34 is secured to the feed head as by peripherally spaced cap The ring 34 is also provided with a plu-' rality of angled and peripherally spaced apertures 30'. registering with and being extensions of the apertures 30 in the feed head for providing auxiliary air inlets to the annular grinding chamber 24. The discharge end peripheral face of v v 1'10 face 43 of thering 34 is adapted to abut with w i the feed end face 44 of the ring 35.

e run 35 is also. provided with a feed end groove 45, a discharge'end pelilo tending peripheral flange 47 between the side grooves, and in which are located the communicating ports 31. The ring 35 is also provided with the transverse, imperforate, disk wall 48 for separating the feed chamber 22 from the discharge chamber 23 and which abuts at its outer peripheral edge with the feed end side face 49 of the ring36.

The ring 36 is likewise provided with feed end peripheral side groove 50, discharge end peripheral side groove '51, and an outwardly extending peripheral flange 52 between the side grooves, and in which are located the communicating ports 31. The discharge end side face 52 of the ring 36 abuts with the feed end side face 53 of the ring 37.

The ring 37 is likewise provided with feed 0nd peripheral side groove 54, discharge end peripheral side groove 55, and outwardly extending peripheral flange 56 between the grooves and having located therein the communicating ports 31". The discharge end side face 57 of the ring 37 abuts with the feed end side face 58 of the ring 38.

The ring 38 is provided with feed end peripheral side groove 59, and the outlet ports 26 extend in the ring 38 from the side groove 59 to the inner cylindric peripheral face 60 of the ring 38.

The side grooved outer peripheral face. of the ring 38 extends outwardly at the discharge end side of the ring to form alaterally extending ring flange 61, whose outer surface fits against the inner surface of the filler 32 at the discharge end side of the peripheral groove 33 therein.

The discharge end face 62 of the ring 38 preferably abuts against the inner surface of the discharge head, and the ring 38 is secured to the discharge head as by peripherally spaced cap screws 12. v

The ring 35 is provided with an inner coni cal peripheral face 63 connecting at the feed end of the ring 35 with the inner cylindric peripheral face 39 of the ring 34, and joining at the discharge end of the ring 35 with the feed end disk face of the wall 48, to form the feed chamber 22.

The discharge chamber 23 is formed by the inner face of the discharge head 14, the inner cylindric peripheral face 60 of the ring 38, the inner conical peripheral face 64 of the ring 37, the cylindric and conical peripheral face 65 of the ring 36, and the discharge end disk face of the wall 48. I

In operating the improved balanced ball mill herein set forth, material to be ground is first fed into the feed head orifice 27 as from a chute 66.

The discharge orifice tube 29 is connected as by duct 67 with an exhauster, not shown, which sets up a suction draft crosswise of the annular grinding chambers 24. 24", 24, and 24 by drawing air into the first. grinding chamber 24 through the peripherally spaced auxiliary air inlets 30 and the feedinlet ports 25, thence from the chamber 24 into the chamber 24 through the ports 31, thence from the chamber 24" into the chamber24 throughthe ports 31, thence from the chamber 24? into the chamber 24 through the ports 31'., thence from the chamber 24 into the discharge chamber 23 through the outlet ports 26, and finally from the discharge chamber into the discharge orifice 28.

The air thus drawn cross-wise through the annular grinding chambers of successively decreasing size orvolume, draws with it through the inlet ports 25, and thence through grinding chambers and into the discharge chamber the material which has beenifed into the feed chamber. I g

The mill drum case being rotated, the material thus drawn by the suction draft through annular grinding chambers is subject in the grinding chambers to the grinding action of the successive sets of grinding means such as balls 68, 68", 68, and 68 located respectively in and substantially filling the annular grinding chambers 24*, 24*, 24, and24.

The halls 68 of the set in the first chamber 24 are preferably the largest and heaviest of the balls of any of the sets, and a substantial portion of the total grinding action of the mill is accomplished by the balls 68- rolling against the track chamber 24*.

The successive. sets of balls 68*, 68, and 68*, are all preferably successively smaller insize and weight than the next preceding set, and subject the material passing between them and track groove faces of their respective grinding chambers 24, 24, and 24, with a successivelydecreasing grinding action.

A relatively few medium size balls 69 are groove faces of the preferably placed in the feed chamber 22 for j the purpose of breaking up oversizepieces in the feed too large to pass through the inlet ports 25. v

A relatively few small balls 70 are likewise placed in the discharge chamber 23 for the purpose of grinding to proper size any over size or tramp material that may happen to pass through grinding chambers.

The discharge orifice deflector tube 29'extending into the discharge chamber 23 is for the purpose of deflecting downwards into the discharge chamber any such tramp material that may be drawn from the outlet ports 26, and the end of the tube 29 is preferably closely adjacent the wall 48 so that the tramp material must be reduced to proper size by the balls 70 before it is drawn into the discharge orifice. 4

The mill requires no cyclone or other scpa-' rator for connection with it for making a uni- When the balls 68, 68*, and 68 becomes reduced in size by wear, they may be taken out of their chambers 24, 24 and 24 and placed in chambers 2 9324,and24 ,respective- 1y, becoming then balls 68, 68 and 68 and the worn out balls 68 removed from the chamber 24 may become balls 70 for use in the discharge chamber 23.

I claim:

1. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a feed chamber, a discharge chamher and an annular grinding chamber, a plurality of material inlet ports comn'iunicating between the feed chamber and the'grinding chamber, a plurality of outlet ports communicating between the grinding chamber and the discharge chamber, a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the grinding chamber for admitting air and the like thereto, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chamber for grinding material passing therethrough.

2. A ball mill and the like including rotatable walls forming a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and an annular grinding chamber, a plurality of material inlet ports communicating between the feed chamber and the grinding chamber, a plurality of outlet ports communicating between the grinding chamber and the discharge chamber, a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the grinding chamber for admitting air and the like thereto, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chamber for grinding material passing therethrough.

3. A ball mill and the like including horizontally rotatable walls forming a feed chamber, a discharge chamber and an annular grinding chamber, a plurality of material inlet ports communicating between the feed chamber and the grinding chamber, a plurality of outlet ports communicating between the grinding chamber and the discharge chamber, a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the grinding chamber for admitting air and the like thereto, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chamber for grinding material pass ing therethrough.

4. A ball mill and the like including walls forming an annular grinding chamber, a plurality of material inlet ports for the chamber, and a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the chamber for admitting air and the like thereto.

5. A ball mill and the like including walls forming an annular grinding chamber, a plu-. rality of material inlet ports for the chamber, and a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the chamber for admitting air 6. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inlet ports, outlet ports and communicating ports therefor, and one of the chambers having a different volume than another chamber.

7 A ball mill and the like including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inlet ports, outlet ports and com municating ports therefor, and successive chambers having successively different volumes. i

8. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inlet ports, outlet ports and communicating ports therefor, one of the chambers having a different volume than another chamber, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chambers for grinding material passing therethrough.

9. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inlet ports, outlet ports and communicating ports therefor, successive chambers having successively diiferent volumes, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chambers for grinding material passing therethrough.

' 10. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inletports, outlet ports and communicating ports therefor, one of the chambers having a different volume than another chamber, and a set of grinding means as balls and the like of one size in one grinding chamher, and a set of grinding means as balls and the like of another size in another grinding chamber.

11. A ball mill and thelike including walls forming a plurality of toroidal grinding chambers, inlet ports, outlet ports and communicating ports therefor, successive chambers having successively different volumes, and successive sets of grinding means as balls .and the like in the successive grinding chambers, the successive sets of grinding means having successively diiferent sizes.

12. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a feed chamber and a discharge chamber, a disk wall separating the feed chamber and discharge chamber, ports communicating between the feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and an outwardly flanged deflector extending into the discharge chamber and ending closely adjacent to the disk wall.

13. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a feed chamber and a discharge chamber, a disk wall separating the feed chamber and discharge chamber, ports communicating between the 'feed chamber and the discharge chamber, and a .tubular deflector extending into the discharge chamber and ending closely adjacent to the disk wall.

14. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a feed chamber, a discharge'chainber and an annular grinding chamber, a plurality .municating between the grinding chamber and the discharge chamber, 'a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the grinding chamber for admitting air and the like thereto, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chamber for grinding material passing therethrough, and a deflector extending into the discharge chamber.

15. A ball mill and the like including walls forming a feed chamber, a discharge chamher and an annular grinding chamber, a pluralit-y of material inlet ports communicating between the feed chamber and the grinding chamber, a plurality of outlet ports con1- municating between the grinding chamber and the discharge chamber, a plurality of auxiliary inlet ports in the end wall of the grinding chamber for admitting air and the like thereto, and grinding means as balls and the like movable in the grinding chamber for grinding material passing therethrough, and a tubular deflector extending into the discharge chamber.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have .hereunto subscribed-my name.

WILLIAM M. BARKER. 

